Rook
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Cover Story
The poem on our front cover is taken from Figgie Hobbin by Charles Causley, with illustrations by Gerald Rose, re-issued by Macmillan (0 333 12078 7, £7.50) in May 1990. Figgie Hobbin was first published in 1970 and has remained in print ever since. We are grateful to Macmillan for help in using this illustration.
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Set in the class-conscious 1930s, this is a rural tale about 13-year-old Nell's relationship with the gardener's boy, Jack. The friendship is given a mysterious dimension through their interest in Rook, an elderly tramp who has strange powers of healing. Initial ambiguity over Nell's age and the period setting detract from the story, and there's some stylistic inconsistency which seems to stem from uncertainty over the intended readership (8-10, or younger teenage?). Patience is rewarded by the effective plotting of the conclusion.
